Commerce Department Agrees to Reassess Maine Sea Grant Funding

US Senator Susan Collins announced that the Department of Commerce agreed to renegotiate funding for Maine Sea Grant.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, following a push from Collins, said that NOAA will renegotiate the terms and conditions of the work to be performed by Maine Sea Grant to "ensure that it focuses on advancing Maine’s coastal economies, working waterfronts and sustainable fisheries.”

“I appreciate the Secretary’s willingness to work together to ensure that Maine Sea Grant can continue to conduct research, support a robust pipeline of skilled labor, and ensure that our...

US Demand Helps Fuel Record Norwegian Seafood Exports in February

Norway experienced its highest export value for the month of February. While there were a multitude of factors at play, trade with the US was a key factor. A similar story was the case in January as the US was the largest market for Norwegian seafood on a value basis to start 2025, as Expana reported.

According to the council, the USA had the highest value growth in February, witnessing an export value increase of NOK 548 million ($50 million)...

Cooke's Atlantic Canadian Subsidiary Acquires AquaBounty’s PEI Operations

Yesterday, Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd. (KCS)—an Atlantic Canadian salmon farming subsidiary of Cooke Aquaculture Inc.—announced its acquisition of AquaBounty Canada Inc. (AquaBounty) and its Prince Edward Island (PEI) operations.

Among KCS’s newfound assets are four total buildings including a hatchery facility with modern egg incubation, a high-tech laboratory in Bay Fortune, a modern hatchery facility in Rollo Bay with a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), and a second unfinished building, which KCS plans to fasten into an additional RAS unit.

The acquisition comes after AquaBounty—the firm behind the...

Yokohama Reito Launches its Newest and Largest Cold Storage Facility in Vietnam

Yokohama Reito, also known as Yokorei Co., Ltd., a major refrigerated and frozen distribution company, has completed construction of the Vietnam Yokorei Ben Luc Logistics Center Main Facilities in Vietnam, according to the Minato Shimbun report and the company's recent press release.

The completion ceremony was held on March 3 and was attended by about 100 people including company officials, the Director General of the Long An Economic Zone Administration, the Chairman of Phu An Thanh Industrial Park, local business partners, and construction workers...

FAO Offers New Open-Access Course for Emergency Preparedness of Aquatic Disease Outbreaks

The Food and Agriculture Association of the United Nations (FAO) recently announced a new open-access e-learning course on the emergency preparedness for aquatic disease outbreaks.

The free online course provide participants with an overview of disease in aquatic organisms, highlighting the importance of emergency preparedness for effective disease prevention, management, and control. In addition, it will cover disease outbreak investigation and diagnostics as well as contingency planning for mass mortality events in aquatic populations.

The course is comprised of the following five lessons, each approximately...

Paraguay Delegation Visits Thai Union Factory in Samut Sakhon

Samut Sakorn – March 5, 2025 – Thai Union Group PCL, the world’s seafood leader, recently welcomed a high-level delegation from the Republic of Paraguay, led by H.E. Mr. Javier Viveros Machuca, Vice Minister of Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and H.E. Mr. Fleming Duarte Ramos, Ambassador to Thailand...

US Seafood Targeted in Canada’s Proposed Retaliatory Tariff List

Canada wasted no time hitting back at new U.S. tariffs, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing immediate 25% retaliatory duties on C$30 billion ($20.9 billion) worth of American imports after the levies took effect on March 4.

“Canada is being needlessly and unfairly targeted by these tariffs – and the US' decision leaves us with no choice but to respond to protect Canadian interests, workers and businesses. Working with provincial, territorial and industry partners, our singular focus is to remove these tariffs as quickly as possible...

The Retail Rundown: Key Buying Occasions on the Horizon 

March presents key retail buying opportunities as spring holidays approach and Lent influences shopping and dining habits.

With Lent beginning today, meat sales typically decline as participants shift toward seafood. This week, seafood promotions rose to 28% of total retail features, up from 26% last week. Currently, 31% of seafood ads highlight fresh or frozen fillets, with options like salmon, cod, and catfish averaging $9.30 per pound on discount—nearly 9% higher than a year ago.

Elsewhere in the retail landscape, beef and pork each account for nearly 25% of featured promotions...

US Reps. Pingree and Wittman Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect US Working Waterfronts

On March 3, 2025, U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Rob Wittman (R-Va.) reintroduced a bipartisan bill to protect and fortify the country’s working waterfronts.

Details of the bipartisan bill

The bill, titled, “The Keep America’s Waterfronts Working Act,” stands to support states, tribes, and municipalities by establishing a Working Waterfronts Task Force at the Department of Commerce and authorizing $50 million to create a Working Waterfronts Grant Program and revolving preservation loan fund in order to fund vital preservation efforts along America’s working...

Russia Sharply Increases 2025 Production of Deep-Processed Pollock Products

Russia is increasing its 2025 production of deep-processed pollock products due to an ever-growing demand both domestically and abroad.

According to the latest data from the Russian Pollock Association (ADM), since the beginning of the year, Russia’s total output of deeply processed pollock products—including fillets, minced meat, and surimi — has grown by 17% compared to 2024, reaching a total of 7,600 tons.

As Alexey Buglak—head of ADM for the last two years—said, due to the unstable situation on the world market, Russian fishermen have been reducing...

Government of Canada Invests $4.79 Million to Protect At-Risk Aquatic Species in B.C.

On March 5, 2025, the Honorable Diane Lebouthillier—Canada’s Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard (DFO)—announced CAD $4.79 million (USD $3.35 million) in funding for the Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk (CNFASAR) conservation program.

The investment will directly support ten projects within British Columbia that forward conservation and recovery efforts for currently at-risk aquatic species.

Seven projects will target species in the Fraser and Columbia River watersheds, which host 70% of the Pacific Region’s freshwater...

SalMar Takes Full Control of Offshore Aquaculture Venture SalMar Aker Ocean

Salmon farming giant SalMar announced that it has agreed to purchase Aker Capital (Aker)’s 15% ownership stake in offshore aquaculture firm SalMar Aker Ocean (SAO) for one million SalMar shares and a cash consideration of NOK 76 million ($7 million).

SalMar said it views offshore aquaculture as an opportunity for growth both in Norway and abroad. After long evaluations and discussions, the two partner companies, SalMar and Aker, agreed that SalMar can more effectively manage the offshore aquaculture segment of the business...

International Coalition of Fisheries Associations To Host Global Discussion Panel at SENA 2025

On March 4, 2025, the International Coalition of Fisheries Associations (ICFA) announced that it will be hosting a global discussion panel at the 2025 Seafood Expo North America (SENA) on Sunday, March 16.

The panel, titled “Collaborating for Solutions,” will take place from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm within the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, Massachusetts.

The panel will feature Ivan López Van der Veen (ICFA Chair and Vice President of CEPESCA), Lisa Wallenda Picard (President and CEO of the National Fisheries Institute...

US Commerce Secretary Hints at Possible Tariff Relief for Canada, Mexico

The Trump administration’s tariff policy remains in flux as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested that the president may adjust tariffs on Canada and Mexico on March 5.

In a Fox Business interview on Tuesday, Lutnick stated, “I think (Trump)’s going to work something out with them.” He clarified that while a full pause isn’t on the table, Trump is open to a compromise with the U.S.’s neighbors.

“Both the Canadians and Mexicans were on the phone with me all day today trying to show that they’ll do...

ANALYSIS: Argentinian Shrimp Exports Up 9.2% in 2024, But January 2025 Plunges 27.8%

According to Argentinian Customs Statistics, shrimp exports increased by 9.2% in 2024, reaching 154k metric tons compared to 141k MT in 2023. However, Q4 declined by 5.5%, and the latest data shows a steeper drop in January 2025, at 27.8% compared with January 2024. In value, Argentina exported 988.9 million USD worth of shrimp in 2024, an 8.6% year over year. This includes a 0.6% mild decline in Q4, followed by a 25.5% fall in January...

EU Faces Possible Fish Product Shortage with Looming Ban on Russian Fish Imports

The introduction of a complete European Union (EU) ban on Russian fish imports poses a current threat to the EU, which could see a deep shortage of fish products as a result, with Germany being one of the most affected countries, according to a recent report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

A shortage is anticipated for many popular fish products, such as fish sticks, which are one of the most popular fish products among Europeans.

This comes as the EU considers new sanctions against...

Publix Sees Solid Growth in Q4 and FY 2024 Results 

In its latest financial results, Publix has seen robust growth in quarterly and fiscal earnings.

For the fourth quarter of 2024, the company reported sales of $15.5 billion, reflecting a 5.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Net earnings for the quarter totaled $1.1 billion.

For the full year, Publix achieved sales of $59.7 billion, a 4.6% increase over fiscal 2023.

Comparable store sales rose by 2.9% year-over-year.

Net earnings for the year amounted to...